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    Home » Blog » Birthdays

    Awesome Birthday Dates with Your Kids

    Published: Mar 12, 2014 · Modified: Apr 28, 2018 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Family life is busy, make it a tradition to take your kids out for special one-on-one Mommy-Kid and Daddy-Kid dates every year before their birthday. It's a wonderful way to check in with them every year as they grow.

    Birthday dates: a special tradition to do with your kids | Peanut Blossom

    Last year we started a new birthday tradition with our girls: The Birthday Bucket List.

    It was such a hit, we couldn't wait to institute this year's list. The Peanut's birthday comes up at the end of the month so we have a "7 Before 7" list on our chalkboard in the kitchen and we've been ticking off the activities one by one.

    Last weekend's item was "Mommy & Peanut Date" and my little lady was so excited. Our day was so special for both of us, I wanted to share my tips for you to recreate the same experience with your little ones.

    P.S. Our date was at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens here in North Carolina. Spring has been sprouting up for a week or so but really the only thing blooming there during our visit were my special "Peanut Flowers." 

    I just love that picture at top of my baby near her signature flowers.

    A Birthday to Remember:

    Parents spend a significant amount of time with their kids but there is a difference between the every day and the extraordinary.

    Making the decision to intentionally spend memorable and special time one-on-one with your little ones is a fantastic way to bond and establish great communication for the years to come.

    1. Make a Tradition

    We do this periodically throughout the year but without fail it has become part of a pre-birthday tradition. Pick a special date that is meaningful and easy to remember so that you don't let a whole year go by without a date. Your child then has something specific to look forward to and think about as the date approaches.

    Birthday dates: a special tradition to do with your kids | Peanut Blossom

    2. Check the Map

    Yes, you could do dinner and a movie, but by looking beyond your town borders allows the event to be a little bigger in scope and more memorable. Our botanic garden is a 40 minute drive away. A very easy day trip done in an afternoon.

    As our interests change and grow, I would not hesitate to plan a little farther out and pick something that required a longer drive.

    Check a 1-3 hour driving radius of where you live, what could you find? I love using Google Maps for this.

    How about:

    • a museum you've never tried before
    • exploring a different city's downtown
    • a special event: festival, concert, art fair
    • a national park, monument, or landmark of some kind

    3. Slow it Down

    Part of our date was stopping at the local grocery store to pick out some fun prepared goodies for an impromptu picnic. Normally this would feel like a chore that happens "before" the good stuff but we made it "part of" the experience.

    We wandered around the store tasting the samples on display. Picked out treats and beverages to go with our healthy lunch. The Peanut pushed the shopping cart and managed most of the transaction.

    It added another 45 minutes on to our date but we viewed it as just part of the fun.

    Birthday dates: a special tradition to do with your kids | Peanut Blossom

    4. Don't Forget the Journey

    Some day our little ones will be behind the wheel and we'll be missing out on the perfect opportunity for a captive audience for deep chats. By picking a destination a little farther away you're prolonging the fun and providing more time for talking.

    Be prepared to make the drive more comfortable for both of you:

    • Good tunes: We streamed this Pandora station through my iPhone in the car. It was fantastic! Highly recommend.
    • Some activities for the backseat: The Peanut loves the On the Go sets from Melissa & Doug. We've enjoyed the Magic Art Studio and this awesome pinball game in particular.
    • A special treat beverage for mom or dad: I was sure to have my handy Diet Coke for the ride, I'm certain when it is Tim's turn he'll be making a stop at Starbucks part of his date. It may also involve a cake pop for the Peanut.
    Birthday dates: a special tradition to do with your kids | Peanut Blossom

    5. Capture the Moment

    I was sure to capture a few "birthday portraits" of my lady on our date but my heart nearly burst when we were strapping ourselves in for the ride home and she gasped, "MOM! We didn't get a picture of us together!"

    If ever there was something that I need to be reminded of it is To Get In The Photo Too!!! It meant the world to me that that image was so important to her that we unbuckled and got right back out of the car.

    We were lucky enough to run into another mom/daughter trio who gladly took the photo of us together with my phone.

    It is absolutely my favorite picture from the day.
    Birthday dates: a special tradition to do with your kids | Peanut Blossom

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    Comments

    1. Christin Stoufflet

      March 13, 2014 at 9:22 pm

      This is such an important idea! This summer I sent my twins to daycare twice a week so that my oldest and I could have adventures. I felt a bit guilty leaving my boys behind but she and I had so much fun. There is truly a difference when you are on an adventure and just your everyday. It's important to relax, explore and be joyful alongside your child. It feeds you just as much as them. I LOVE Mommy - Daughter dates!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Mommy Daughter Adventures: a fabulous kid birthday idea says:
      April 2, 2015 at 8:53 am

      […] Part of our family birthday traditions for the girls include a Mommy Date and a Daddy Date during their birthday month. We each try to plan a special outing with the birthday girl for some one on one time. Be sure to get 5 tips for planning a great birthday date right here. […]

      Reply
    2. 5 Simple Ways to Create Memories You’ll Cherish | SKG Magazine says:
      February 26, 2015 at 9:00 am

      […] KIDS LEAVE HOME. 2/ IDEA – CREATE A PHOTO TRADITION. 3/ 10 BACK TO SCHOOL TRADITIONS. 4/ BIRTHDAY ADVENTURES. 5/ PHOTO IDEA. 6/ A YEAR IN REVIEW. 7/ FAMILY SILHOUETTE IDEA. 8/ FAMILY HANDPRINT MEMORY. […]

      Reply
    3. Rainy day splashes in “muddles” » Peanut Blossom says:
      March 17, 2014 at 2:11 pm

      […] Sunday, my normal photo day, arrived Cold, Wet, and Miserable. Tim and the Peanut were off having a Daddy/Daughter Date so Little Pea and I were left to our own […]

      Reply

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    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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